Movable roof mechanism and outrigger support therefor



July 31, 1956 F. sTRlcK ET AL 2,757,043

MOVABLE ROOF MECHANISM AND OUTRIGGER SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed NOV. 18,1952 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 l0 (CL 5 25 n4 l I I 1 I I l '23 23 INVENTORS.FAA/V/f ATP/(7f deceaseg/ BY R055 HIP/(K, 50/ TH f/[PPA/PD and July 31,1956 s c ET AL 2,757,043

MOVABLE ROOF MECHANISM AND OUTRIGGER SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed Nov. 18,1952 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 [Mr/l /[PPARD am/ JOI/ 5 STIR/CA1 Execuforr, andCHARLES Z BOHLE/Y Ma/Lam ATTORNEYS.

July 31, 1956 F. STRICK ET AL 2,757,043

MOVABLE ROOF MECHANISM AND OUTRIGGER SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed NOV. 18,1952 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 WWW A T TOP/V91 July 31, 1956 F. sTRlcK ET ALMOVABLE ROOF MECHANISM AND OUTRIGGER SUPPORT THEREFOR 9 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTORS.

Filed Nov. 18, 1952 F/PAA/A Jm/m; deceased B) 120:; sm/m 50/ m.FHL-PPARD and ATTORNEYS.

MOVABLE ROOF MECHANISM AND OUTRIGGEIR SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed NOV. 18,1952 July 31, 1956 F. STRICK ETAL 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS. F/Wl/Y/fSTR/C/fi deceased BY P055 .S'T/P/Of [0/77/ ff/[PPAFD and JOffP/l .5.ST/P/Uf Ema/for; am/ 09/1/9115" 1. 50/91 51V BY WWW A TTOP/VEVJZ y 1,1956 F. STRICK ET AL 2,757,043

MOVABLE ROOF MECHANISM AND OUTRIGGER SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed NOV. 18,1952 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 I I l8 ll INVENTORS.

F/PA/V/K 57/9/0 deceaseqg 5r ROSE sr/P/c/g 50/7 J/lfP/MRD anc/ JOSfP/lSIR/(11, aecufor; and CHARLES 1 5071545 BY ATTORNEYS.

y 1, 1956 F. STRICK ETAL 2,757,043

MOVABLE ROOF MECHANISM AND OUTRIGGER SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed NOV. 18,1952 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 I l lQ/l/y/f SEQ/(76 deceased BY ROSE 57A /[K LD/7H f/VEPPARD and JOSEPH 5 57/9/06 xecufors; and CHAPZESZ BOf/LZ/Y B) MW W N VENTORS.

ATTORNEYS.

July 31, 1956 F. STRICK ET AL 2,757,043

MOVABLE ROOF MECHANISM AND OUTRIGGEIR SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed NOV. 18,1952 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTORS. F/Q/I/YA SEQ/(7i: deceaseofl BY R055STE/CK, FD/T/ .SA'EPPARD and JOSL'P/l f. STE/C vecufon; and CHARLES {BO/915V BY ATTORNEYS.

July 31, 1956 F. STRICK ETAL MOVABLE ROOF MECHANISM AND OUTRIGGERSUPPORT THEREFOR Filed Nov. 18, 1952 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 I62 i a c w O 5I38 I66 I32 I8 I60 I28 1% 0 o I INVENTORS.

Fm/mq/ R/c/r, deceased, BY x2055 sr/P/c/r, 50/7 Sf/[PPARD and JOffP/l E579% fiecufors; and (HA/P15) 1 50/115 B) W mw W ATTORNEY 5'.

United States Patent O MOVABLE ROOF MECHANISM AND OUTRIGGER SUPPORTTHEREFOR Frank Strick, deceased, late of Philadelphia County, Pa., byRose Strick, Edith Sheppard, and Joseph E. Strick, executors, MontgomeryCounty, Pa., and Charles I. Bohlen, Bucks County, Pa., assignors, bymesne assignments, to Fruehauf Trailer Company, Detroit, Mich., acorporation of Michigan Application November 18, 1952, Serial No.321,208

21 Claims. :(Cl. 296-437) slidably mounted upon the top of a trailer andoutriggers 2 or supports hingedly mounted to one end of the trailer bodywhereby the outriggers or supports may be swung automatically to anopen, roof supporting position or a closed, non-supporting position inresponse to .a predetermined opening and closing movement of the roof.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a roof slidablymounted on top of a van type trailer and jack means at the rear end ofthe trailerfor aligning the trailer body with the roof prior to lockingthe roof in its closed position. This alignment means is especiallyimportant when the trailer is parked on uneven ground, and has one ofits rear wheels elevated relative to the other rear wheel during theloading operation.

Because of this position, the trailer body is distorted out of its truerectangular'shape while the roof still retains its true rectangularshape. Therefore, when the roof is moved in the closing operation, thetrailer body and the roof are out of alignment so that the .lattercannot be locked in its fully closed position. To make this lockingoperation possible, jack means .are provided at both sides of the rearend of the trailer body which can be .efiiciently operated by thetruckmen to force the trailer body back into its true rectangular shapeto conform and mate with the roof so that the roof may be locked initsfully closed position.

A feature of the present invention is the provision of a header hingedto the rear end of the movable roof which may be locked in position onthe trailer when the roof is closed and yet permit the opening and.closing of the rear doors of the trailer without the necessity .ofunlocking the header and moving the roof should it be necessary to haveaccess to the interior of the trailer through the rear doors instead ofthrough the roof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a movable roofstructure for a van type trailer which when closed and locked makes thetrailer bodyequal in strength to that of the enclosed type of trailerbody.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become moreapparent when the following description is read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view in side elevation of a van type trailerembodying the present roof mechanism and illustrating the distortion ofthe trailer body relative to the roof when the trailer is resting 'in aninclined position on uneven ground;

"includes a depending portion or rim 16 which loosely Figure 2 is adiagrammatic .top plan view of the trailer as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the trailer with the roofthereon and shown in the position where the trailer body has beenaligned with the roof;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the trailerillustrating the openand closed position of the roof, the truck attached to the trailer beingshown in phantom;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 ofFigure 4;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 and illustrating the outriggersin an open position;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary diagrammatic plan view of the front end of thetrailer and illustrating the closed position of the outriggers;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 and illustrating the manner inwhich the outriggers are urged into an open position;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 and illustrating the completelyopened position of the outriggers;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 1010 of Figure5;

Figure 11 is an enlarged and reversed bottomplan-view of the forwardportion of the roof per se;

Figure 12 is a broken-away sectional view taken .substantially on aplane of sectional line 1212 of Figure '10;

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the trailer andillustrating one means for driving the .roof into an open and closedposition;

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13 and illustrating a second meansfor driving the roof into an open and closed position;

Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 14 and illustrating a third meansfor driving the roof into an open and closed position;

Figure 16 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 1616 ofFigure 5;

Figure 17 is an enlarged view of a detail of Figure 16 with the roofmoved into its completely opened position;

Figure 18 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal sectional view throughthe roof and looking towards one side of the trailer;

Figure .19 is a sectional view taken on the line 19-1 of Figure 18; V

Figure 20 is a sectional view taken on theline 2020 of Figure 18;

Figure 21 is a fragmentary rear view of the trailer and illustrating theroof in its locked position;

Figure 22 is a sectional view taken on the line 2222 of Figure 21;

Figure 23 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2323 of Figure22;

Figure 24 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2424 of Figure23;

Figure 25 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2525 of Figure24;

Figure 26 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of -a second jackmeans for aligning the trailer body with the roof;

Figure 27 is a view similar to Figure 26 and illustrating a third jackmeans for aligning the trailer body with the roof.

.Specific reference will now be made to the drawings wherein similarreference characters are used for corresponding elements throughout.

Indicated generally at 10 is a conventional open top or van type traileradapted to be drawn by a conventional truck 12. Slidably mounted on theopen top of the trailer body is a roof 14 which is a substantiallyrectangular sheet of metal or equivalent material and which embraces thesides 18 and'20 and the front 22 of the trailer body at the upper openend thereof. Appropriate cross-members or bows 24 are provided which arewelded or otherwise secured to the undersurface of the roof to stiffenand strengthen the same.

Integral with or secured to the side overhang portion 16 of the roof arelongitudinally extending, relatively short platforms 26 on both sides ofthe roof, as shown more clearly in Figures 1820, to which are bolted orotherwise secured a number of longitudinally spaced brackets 28. Thesebrackets are designed to rotatably mount alternately spaced vertical andhorizontal rollers 30 and 32 respectively.

Appropriately mounted on the upper edges of both sides 18 and of thetrailer body are longitudinally extending tracks 34 which receive thevertical and horizontal rollers 30 and 32. The vertical rollers 30function primarily to guide the horizontal sliding movement of the roofon the trailer while the horizontal rollers 32 serve to minimize anyrelatively lateral movement between the roof and the trailer.

The present invention includes a means carried by the trailer body andoperatively connected to the roof for positively'driving the roof to apartial or complete open and closed position. Such a means permits thetruckmen to load or unload the trailer through the top thereof with theroof only partially open as may be required at various times.

A preferred embodiment of the drive means is shown in Figures l4, l6 and17 and the two modifications of this drive means are shown in Figures 13and 15.

With respect to the drive means shown in Figures 14, 16 and 17, the samecomprises a stub shaft 36 rotatably mounted in a bearing bracket 38secured to only one side 18 of the trailer body adjacent the bottom andfront of the trailer. Integral with the stub shaft and disposed on theoutside of the trailer is a sprocket wheel 40 and removably secured tothe stub shaft and disposed on the outside of the trailer is a suitablehandle 42.

Rotatably secured in a bearing bracket 44 which is in turn appropriatelysecured to the side 18 of the trailer body adjacent the top and frontthereof is a further stub shaft 46 which mounts two sprocket wheels, one48 on the outside of the trailer and another 50 on the inside of thetrailer. An endless chain 52 is entrained over the sprockets 40 and 48.A cover plate for the chain and sprockets 40 and 48 may be secured tothe outside of the trailer body if desired. 7

A further chain 54 is provided which is terminally secured as at 56 and58 to and adjacent the rear and front of the roof. An intermediateportion of the chain 54 is entrained over the other sprocket 50 and thechain is guided in its movement by two idler sprockets 60 rotatablymounted on the side 18 of the trailer body and extending into theinterior thereof as shown clearly in Figure 17.

Thus rotation of the handle 42 in one or another direction will move theroof into an open or closed position and the movement of the roof can bestopped at any desired point. It should be understood at this point thatwhile a manual means is illustrated for rotating the stub shaft 36 andhence moving the roof, an equivalent motor means may be employed ifdesired.

In the modification shown in Figure 13, a stub shaft 62 may be rotatablymounted on one side of the trailer body adjacent the bottom and frontthereof, the stub shaft carrying a sprocket 64 disposed in the interiorof the trailer body. An endless chain 66 is terminally secured as at 68and 70 to and adjacent the rear and front of the roof and has anintermediate portion 72 which is entrained over the sprocket 64 and isguided in its movement by a pair of sprockets 74 mounted on the side ofthe trailer on the inside thereof and engaging the 5 chain 66. Thus arotation by manual or motor means of the shaft 62 will directly drivethe roof to a partial or complete open and closed position.

In the modification shown in Figure-15, a shaft 76 is rotatably mountedon the side 18 of the trailer body adjacent the front and bottom thereofand mounts on the outside of the trailer a sprocket wheel 78. A furthershaft 80 is rotatably mounted on the side 18 of the trailer bodyadjacent the front and top thereof and includes an outer sprocket wheel82 and an inner gear 84. Entrained over the sprockets 78 and 82 is anendless chain 86 and the gear 84 engages a rack bar 88 carried by theroof on one side thereof and extending from the rear of the roof to apoint adjacent the front thereof. Thus, when the shaft 76 is driven bymanual or motor means, the gear 84 will move the rack and roof to apartial or complete open and closed position as will be readilyunderstood.

When a slidable roof is provided for a relatively long trailer, such asa 34 foot trailer, it is necessary to provide a means to support theoverhang portion of the roof when the same is in a partially orcompletely open position. The present invention includes such a meanshaving outriggers which are pivoted to the trailer and urged into anopen roof-supporting position or a closed nonsupporting position inresponse to a predetermined opening or closing movement of the roof.This means is illustrated in detail in Figures 5 to 12.

The outriggers are generally indicated at 90 and 92 and may be of anydesired shape and construction, but each outrigger must include avertically extending member 94 hinged as at 96 for movement in ahorizontal plane to the front ends of the sides 18 and 20 of the trailerbody. Secured to or integral with the vertical member 94 is ahorizontally extending member 98 which is in the form of a substantiallyU-shaped track. Each of the horizontal members 98 has secured to theinner face thereof and slightly upstanding therefrom a cam element orfinger at a predetermined location relative to the hinge point 96. Thepreferred cam element is a roller 100 or an equivalent element may beemployed.

Appropriately secured to the inner surface of the roof 14 and at apredetermined distance from the front end of the roof is a pair offorwardly and inwardly inclined cam tracks 102 and 104 having relativelyshort rear portions 106 and 108 which extend parallel to the longitudinal tracks 34 on both sides of the trailer body. Both the rear andfront ends of each of the cam tracks 102 and 104 are open as at 110 and112.

The manner in which the outriggers 90 and 92 open and close in responseto a predetermined forward and rearward movement of the roof 14 will bedescribed in conjunction with the diagrammatic views 79. When the roofis in its retracted or closed position, the outriggers 90 and 92 lie ina plane generally perpendicular to the sides 18 and 20 of the trailerbody and against the front portion of the trailer body behind the primemover or truck 12. When the drive mechanism is operated, the roof 14moves forward a sufficient distance until the cam elements or rollers100 carried by the outriggers enter the open end 112 of the cam tracks102 and 104 carried by the roof and further forward movement of the roofurges the outriggers into the open position as shown clearly in Figure8.

At thepoint where the horizontal members 98 of the outriggers come intoalignment with the sides 18 and 20 of the trailer body, the cam elementsor rollers 100 enter the rear parallel portions 106 and 108 of the camtracks 102 and 104. This holds the outriggers in alignment with thesides of the trailer and against lateral movement while the roof 14 isstill moving forward. Before the cam elements or rollers 100 leave therear open ends 110 of the cam tracks 102 and 104, the rollers 30 and 32carried by the roof enter the tracks of the horizontal members 98 of theoutriggers as shown clearly in Figure 9. Upon further forward movementof the roof, the cam elements or rollers 100 leave the rear ends 110 ofthe cam tracks 102 and 104 and the rollers 30 and 32 two front landinggear wheels 17'.

of the roof engaged in the tracks of the horizontal members 98 f theoutriggers hold the latter in their fully open or roof-supportingposition at all times.

It will be readily understood that upon rearward movement of the roofinto the closing position after predetermined movement of ,the roof, thecam elements ,or rollers 100 will enter .the cam tracks 102 and 104carried by the roof through the rear open ends 110 thereof and thecontinued rearward movement of the roof will urge the outriggers 90 and92 into .the closed non-supporting position. It will further beunderstood that the degree of inclination'of the cam tracks 102 and 104will determine the rate of opening of the outriggers relative to therate of movement of the roof. In addition, the location of the camtracks 1.02 and 104 a predetermined distance to the rear of the frontoverhang portion of the roof will assure .openingof the Outriggers 90and 92 without interference with the front overhang portion of the roof.

The present invention also includes, as mentioned earlier, a jack meanscarried at the rear of the trailer body and operatively connected to theroof for aligning the trailer body with the roof just prior to lockingthe roof in its completely .closed position. The need for such a meansis diagrammatically illustrated in Figures 13. When such a trailer, for:the loading operation, is resting on uneven ground so thatione rearwheel thereof is elevated relative to .the other rear wheel 17, thetrailer body is actually distorted out of its true rectangular shape asshown clearly in Figures 1 and 2. The result is that when theslidingroof 14 is ready to be locked in its fully closed position, the corners'19 and 1950f one side of the roof align and .coincide with thecorresponding upper corners 23 and 23' of one side 18 of the trailerbody Whereas the other corners 21 and.21 of the roof are out ofalignment .or do not coincide with the corresponding upper corners 25and 25 of the other side 20 of the trailer body. The corners and 25 ofthe trailer are disaligned from the corresponding corners 21 and 21 ofthe roof along the longitudinal axis a which is parallel to the line ofintersection b of the plane of the roof with the plane of the side wall'20, :as shown clearly in Fig. 2.

In this condition, the header 114 hinged as at 116 to the rear edge ofthe .roof 14 will strike the rear edge of the trailer 'body and preventcomplete closure of the roof. The jack means which will be described indetail immediately hereafter is used to force the trailer body back intoits true rectangular shape and in conformity with the rectangular shapeof the roof 14, as shown clearly in Figure 3, so that the header 114will clear the rear edge of the trailer body allowing the roof to belocked in its fully closed position.

The jack means which is operatively connected to the roof accomplishesthis by exerting a jacking force along the axis a which brings thecorners 25 and 25 of the trailer body into alignment with thecorresponding cerners 21 and 21' of the roof.

When the trailer is not coupled to the tractor or prime mover, it restson the rear wheels 15 and 17 and on the The jacking force redistortingthe trailer body back to its true rectangular shape will act to lift thelower wheel 17 from the ground. However, the roof, side walls, end wallsand bottom of the trailer complete a tube, the roof being connected tothe side walls by the jack means. This tube resists diagonal distortionand maintains the rigidity of the entire trailer which, in turn, issufiicient to support the raised wheel.

When the trailer is coupled to the tractor or prime mover by means .ofthe conventional kingpin 15', the trailer is supported .at three points,namely the two rear wheels 15 and 17 and the kingpin. In this case theoperation of the jack to re-distort the trailer body will act to raise.-one of the front corners of the trailer body instead of one of therear wheels.

Referring now to the preferred jack means as illustrated in Figures2225, ;it will be understood that there are two such means at the rearof the trailer body and operatively connected to the roof which areidentical and consequently, only one such means will be describedhereafter.

Bolted or otherwise secured as at 118 to the roof adjacent each rearcorner thereof is a bracket 1'20 carrying an inwardly extending laterallug 122. ,A clamping bar or latch 124 is provided which, .in itsinoperative position, rests upon an appropriate stop 126 carried by theside of the trailer. The hook end of the clamping bar 124 may be made toengage the lug 122 and the jack means carried by the trailer body andoperatively connected to the clamping .bar 124 can then be operated sothat rearward pressure would be exerted on the lug 122 to force thetrailer body into rectangular alignment with the roof 114.

Bolted or otherwise secured .as .at 128 to each side of the trailer bodyadjacent to the upper rear end thereof is a pair of spaced plates 130and 132. Rotatably mounted adjacent the bottom of the plates is a handle134 mounting a gear 136 on the outside of the plate 132.

Rotatably mounted in suitable bearings on the plates 130 and 132 is astub shaft carrying an inner gear 138 and an outer gear 140, the latterbeing disposed outside the plate 132 and meshing with the gear 136carried by the handle 134. Rotatably mounted between the plates 130 and132 as at 142 and engaging the inner gear 138 is an arcuate gear 144 towhich is pivoted at a point off center from the axis of rotation as at146 the clamp bar 124.

Thus on rotation of the handle 134 so that the arcuate gear 144 movesfrom the dotted line position in Figure 24 to the solid line .positionin Figure 24, distortion pressure is applied to the sides of the trailerand in the final position the pivot point 146 of the .clamp bar 124 isout of alignment with the pivot point 142 of the arcuate gear 144 andthe point at which the lateral lug ,122 is located. Therefore, furtherrotation of the arcuate gear 144 will exert a toggle locking pressure onthe lug 122.

It will be understood, from the above description, that the gearing justdescribed together with the clamp bar 124 constitutes a gear operatedtoggle jack.

As shown clearly in Figure 25, a spring urged ball 150 is associatedwith the pivot 146 and the inner plate 132 contains a recess 152 forreceiving the ball when the jack is in its locked position as shown inthe solid lines in Figure 24. This helps to maintain the jack in itslocked position. Also, the sides of the trailer body adjacent the rearand top thereof are provided with stops 154 to limit the closingmovement of the roof.

After the jacking operation which twists the trailer body back into itstrue rectangular shape and into alignment with the roof, the header 142is pivoted to its closing position as shown in Figures 21 and 22, andthere locked by means of the conventional universal door lock 156 whichcontains a handle that operates a plate which eccentrically mounts twopush rods operating tongues which latch in and out of keepers carried bythe rear of the trailer. To assist the header to close properly inplace, the rear upper ends of the trailer are provided with tongues 158which are received in appropriate grooves in the header as shown clearlyin Figure 21.

An additional feature of the present invention is to provide aconstruction wherein the rear doors 160 can be opened and closedindependently of the header so that access can be had to the interior ofthe trailer without the necessity of unlocking the header and moving theroof. This is accomplished by constructing the header in such a mannerthat its bottom edge includes a recessed portion 162 which is overlappedby the upper edges 164 of the rear doors, the upper edges of the doorsbeing of such construction as to retain a rubber rain seal gasket 166.The header may also include a transversely extending rain gutter 168.

It will be understood that the gear operated toggle jack is but one jackmeans for aligning the trailer body with the roof prior to locking thelatter in its fully closed position. The jacks shown diagrammatically inFigures 26 and 2 7 are illustrations of further jack means foraccomplishing the sairie 'resu'lts.

Depending from the roof 14, as shown in Figure 26, adjacent each corneris a bracket which carries a lateral inwardly extending lug 170. Abracket 172 is mounted on the sides of the trailer body adjacent to eachrear corner thereof and is provided with an appropriate hearing whichsupports a horizontally extending screw 174. One end of the screw can bemade to engage the lateral lug 170 and the screw is operated by means ofthe conventional ratchet type handle 176. In other words, the jack shownin Figure 26 is a horizontally disposed conventional screw jack operatedby a ratchet handle.

The jack shown diagrammatically in Figure 27 comprises a bracket 178depending from both sides of the roof adjacent the rear corners thereof,the bracket carrying a longitudinally extending rack bar 180. A plate182 is appropriately mounted on each side of the trailer body adjacenteach rear corner thereof and appropriately pivoted at 184 to the bracket82 is a number of interconnected levers 186 operated by an appropriatehandle 138 The upper-most lever carries a pawl 190 which engages theteeth of the rack bar 180. Thus the jack shown in Figure 27 is, ineffect, a conventional ratchet and pawl jack mounted on the sides of thetrailer and operatively connected to the rear portions of the roof.

It will be understood that hydraulic jacks may also be used.

. Thus is will be seen that a movable roof mechanism is provided whichcan be effectively used with relatively long as well as relatively shorttrailer bodies. The mechanism is such that the roof can be readilydriven, by manual or motor means, to a partially or completely openedand closed position. Should the movable roof mechanism be employed witha relatively long trailer body, such as a 34 foot trailer, the mechanismcan include a means for supporting the overhang portion of the roof inits open position, which means may be automatically and selectivelyopened and closed to a roofsupporting or non-supporting position inresponse to a predetermined opening and closing movement of the roof.

The present movable roof mechanism also makes it possible to lock theroof in its completely closed position despite the fact that the trailerbody may be distorted from its true rectangular shape during the loadingoperation.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed hereabove, it will be understood by those skilled in the artthat minor variations may be made in the construction and arrangement ofparts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope ofthe appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a van type trailer, a movable roof mechanism comprising a roofstructure, means slidably mounting said roof structure on the top of thetrailer, means carried by the trailer and operatively connected to theroof structure to drive the same to an open and closed position,outriggers hinged to one end of the trailer, means operative in responseto a predetermined movement of the roof structure selectively to closeand open said outriggers to support the overhang portion of the roofstructure in its open position, and jack means at the opposite end ofthe trailer to align the trailer body with the roof structure prior tolocking the roof structure in its closed position.

2. In van type trailer, a movable roof mechanism comprising a roofstructure, means slidably mounting said roof structure on the top of thetrailer, means carried by the trailer and operatively connected to theroof structure to drive the same to an open and closed position,outriggers hinged to one end of the trailer, and means operative inresponse to a predetermined movement of the roof structure selectivelyto close and open said outriggers to support the overhang portion of theroof structure in its open position.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein each of said outriggers includesinterconnected vertical and horizontal members, said vertical membersbeing hinged for horizontal movement to the sides of the trailer at itsfront end, and said means selectively to close and open said outriggersincluding elements carried by said horizontal members and cam trackscarried by said roof structure adapted to engage said elements afterpredetermined movement of said roof structure and swing said outriggersinto an open and closed position.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said cam tracks are carriedadjacent to and are inclined inwardly towards the front end of the roofstructure.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said cam tracks include open frontand rear ends, the front ends engaging said elements on said outriggersafter predetermined forward movement of the roof structure to swing theoutriggers to an open position in alignment with the sides of thetrailer, the rear ends engaging said elements after predeterminedrearward movement of. the roof structure to swing the outriggers to aclosed position perpendicular to the sides of the trailer.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said roof mounting means includeslongitudinal tracks on the top of the sides of the trailer and rollersdepending from the roof structure and engaged in said tracks, thehorizontal members of said outriggers including tracks which align withthe longitudinal tracks when the outriggers are in the open position,several of said roof rollers entering said outrigger tracks afterpredetermined forward movement of the roof structure to hold theoutriggers in the open position.

7. In a van type trailer, a movable roof mechanism comprising a roofstructure, means slidably mounting said roof structure on the top of thetrailer, means carried by the trailer and operatively connected to theroof structure to drive the same to an open and closed position, andjack means at one end of the trailer to align the trailer body with theroof structure prior to locking the roof structure in its closedposition, said jack means including lugs carried by the roof structureadjacent the rear corners thereof and a screw jack mounted horizontallyon each side of the trailer to the rear of said lugs, said jackincluding a jack bar adapted to engage said lugs whereby upon operationof the jacks first one corner and then the other corner of the traileris brought into alignment with the corners of the roof structure priorto locking the roof structure in its closed position.

8. In a van type trailer, a movable roof mechanism comprising a roofstructure, means slidably mounting said roof structure on the top of thetrailer, means carried by the trailer and operatively connected to theroof structure to drive the same to an open and closed position, andjack means at one end of the trailer to align the trailer body with theroof structure prior to locking the roof structure in its closedposition, said jack means including rack bars carried by the roofstructure adjacent the rear corners thereof and pawls mounted on eachside of the trailer to the rear of said rack bars and engaging the samewhereby upon operation of the pawls first one corner and then the othercorner of the trailer is brought into alignment with the corners of theroof structure prior to locking the roof structure in its closedposition.

9. In a van type trailer, a movable roof mechanism comprising a roofstructure slidably mounted on the top of the trailer, outriggers hingedto one end of the trailer, and means operative in response to apredetermined movement of the roof structure selectively to close andopen the outriggers to support the overhang portion of theroof-structure in its open position.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said means includes open-endedcam tracks carried by said roof structure and rollers carried by saidOutriggers whereby upon opening movement of said roof structure, the camtracks engage the rollers and swing the outriggers into an open positionand on reverse closing movement of said roof structure, the cam tracksengage the rollers and swing the Outriggers to a closed position.

11. In a van type trailer, a movable roof mechanism comprising a roofstructure slidably mounted on the top of the trailer and jack means atone end of the trailer and operatively connected to the roof structureto align the trailer body with the roof structure prior to locking theroof structure in its closed position, said jack means including lugscarried by the roof structure adjacent the rear corners thereof, clampbars adapted to engage said lugs and jacks mounted on the trailer to therear of said lugs and operatively connected to said clamp bars wherebyfirst one corner and then the other corner of the trailer is broughtinto alignment with the corners of the roof structure.

12. In a van type trailer, a movable roof mechanism comprising a roofstructure slidably mounted on the top of the trailer, outriggers hingedto one end of the trailer, means operative in response to apredetermined movement of the roof structure selectively to close andopen the Outriggers to support the overhang portion of the roofstructure in its open position, and jack means at the opposite end ofthe trailer to align the trailer body with the roof structure prior tolocking the roof structure in its closed position.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said means selectively to closeand open the outriggers comprises fingers carried by the Outriggers andcam tracks carried by the roof structure adapted to engage the fingersand swing the outriggers after predetermined opening and closingmovement of the roof structure.

14. The combination of claim 12 wherein said jack means includes keeperscarried at the rear of the roof structure, clamp bars adapted to engagethe keepers and jacks mounted on the trailer to the rear of the keepersand operatively connected to the clamp bars to draw the trailer bodyinto alignment with the roof structure.

15. In a rectangular vehicle body having side and end walls, a movableroof mechanism comprising a rectangular roof sheet, means slidablymounting said roof sheet on the top of the body, means carried by thebody and operatively connected to the roof sheet to drive the same to anopen and closed position, the upper corners of one side wall of the bodybeing aligned with the corresponding corners of the roof sheet and theupper corners of the other side wall of the body being disaligned fromthe corresponding corners of the roof sheet along an axis parallel tothe line of intersection of the plane of the roof sheet with the planeof said other side wall of the body due to initial distortion of thebody from its true rectangular shape, and a jack means mounted on saidother side wall of the body operatively connected to the roof sheet andexerting jacking force along said axis to force said upper corners ofsaid other side wall of the body into alignment with the correspondingcorners of the roof sheet prior to locking the roof in its final closedposition.

16. In a rectangular vehicle body having side and end walls, a movableroof mechanism comprising a rectangular roof sheet slidably mounted uponthe top of the body for movement from an open to a final closedposition, the upper corners of one side wall of the body being alignedwith the corresponding corners of the roof sheet and the upper cornersof the other side wall of the body being disaligned from thecorresponding corners of the roof sheet along an axis parallel to theline of intersection of the plane of the roof sheet with the plane ofsaid other side wall of the body due to initial distortion of the bodyfrom its true rectangular shape, and a jack means mounted 10 on saidother side wall of the body operatively connected to the roof sheet andexerting jacking force along said axis to force said upper corners ofsaid other side wall of the body into alignment with the correspondingcorners of the roof sheet prior to locking the roof in its final closedposition.

17. In a rectangular vehicle body having side and end walls, a movableroof mechanism comprising a rectangular roof sheet slidably mounted uponthe top of the body for movement from an open to a final closedposition, the upper corners of one side wall of the body being alignedwith the corresponding corners of the roof sheet and the upper cornersof the other side wall of the body being disaligned from thecorresponding corners of the roof sheet along an axis parallel to theline of intersection of the plane of the roof sheet with the plane ofsaid other side wall of the body due to initial distortion of the bodyfrom its true rectangular shape, means to lock said one side wall tosaid roof sheet, a jack means mounted on said other side wall of thebody operatively connected to the roof sheet and exerting jacking forcealong said axis to force said upper corners of said other side wall ofthe body into alignment with the corresponding corners of the roof sheetprior to locking the roof in its final closed position.

18. The combination of claim 17 wherein said jack means includes a lugcarried by the roof structure, a jack mounted on said other side wall ofthe body and a jack bar operatively connected to said jack and engagingsaid lug.

19. The combination of claim 18 wherein said jack and jack barconstitute a gear operated toggle.

20. In a van type trailer, a movable roof mechanism comprising a roofstructure, means slidably mounting said roof structure on the top of thetrailer, means carried by the trailer and operatively connected totheroof structure to drive the same to an open and closed position, andjack means at one end of the trailer to align the trailer body with theroof structure prior to locking the roof structure in its closedposition, said jack means including lugs carried by the roof structureadjacent the rear corners thereof, a jack mounted on each side of thetrailer adjacent the upper rear corner thereof, and jack barsoperatively connected to said jacks and adapted to engage said lugswhereby upon operation of the jacks first one corner and then the othercorner of the trailer is brought into alignment with the corners of theroof structure prior to locking the roof structure in its closedposition.

21. In a van type trailer, a movable roof mechanism comprising a roofstructure, means slidably mounting said roof structure on the top of thetrailer, means carried by the trailer and operatively connected to theroof structure to drive the same to an open and closed position, andjack means at one end of the trailer to align the trailer body with theroof structure prior to locking the roof structure in its closedposition, said jack means in-- cluding a lug carried by the roofstructure adjacent one rear corner thereof, a jack mounted on one sideof the trailer adjacent the upper rear corner thereof, and a jack baroperatively connected to said jack and adapted to engage said lugwhereby upon operation of the jack the corner of the trailercorresponding to said one rear corner of the roof structure is broughtinto alignment with said one rear corner of the roof structure prior tolocking the roof structure in its closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,322,310 Kring Nov. 18, 1919 1,835,405 Kaplan et a1. Dec. 8, 19312,140,960 Kercher Dec. 20, 1938 2,269,630 Marinello Jan. 13, 19422,614,509 Marimon Oct. 21, 1952

